Personal reflection from HackMeridian Lisbon comms lead. 350+ builders from 36+ countries, with 1 in 4 from Latin America, gathered for two days of building. The piece reflects on what made it different: intentional design, genuine inclusivity, and mentors who went beyond expectations.
The author built communications for HackMeridian Lisbon, a two-day hackathon that brought together 350+ builders from 36+ countries, with notably strong Latin American representation (1 in 4 builders). For the Guatemalan author, seeing so many Latinx builders there building hit harder than expected. Rather than the stereotypical energy-drink-fueled coding marathon, this event was designed with intentional balance and genuine openness to builders from all backgrounds and skill levels. The piece reflects on what made it genuinely special: teams debugging at 3am and laughing together, mentors generously exceeding expectations, and organizers at Guava Global who assembled the right team and shared vision. The underlying message: this kind of inclusive, creative community emerges when leaders focus on building the stage for builders to succeed, not on directing the show themselves.
